President's Welcome

This webpage of presidential updates delivers on my pledge of open and clear communication with the Cal State San Marcos campus community. Along with my speeches, open forums, and video messages, these timely web reports will convey my thoughts about pressing issues and recent events directly to all of you, and this new avenue of communications seems fitting for our tech-savvy 21st-century campus! As I am a firm believer in two-way communication, I hope you will send me your thoughts via my pres@csusm.edu e-mailbox. I'm eager to hear what's on your mind and learn which topics you might like me to address in future reports.

December 6, 2012
2012-2013 Zomalt Outstanding Service Award

Upon the recommendation of the Executive Council, I am pleased to announce that Sally-Jo Divis in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is the 2012-2013 Ernest and Leslie Zomalt Outstanding Service Award honoree.

For the past 22 years, Ms. Divis has been a strong advocate for students in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, encouraging everyone in the department to find new applications for their work. She works tirelessly to ensure that students, faculty and staff work in concert and that all ideas are respected. Her efforts have increased morale and camaraderie and led to improvements throughout the departments, especially in terms of safety and access for disabled students. (read more)

December 4, 2012
2012-2013 President's Faculty & Staff Awards

I am pleased to announce this year's President's Awards for faculty and staff.

President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Outstanding Lecturer
Klaus Schryen, Management and Marketing, CoBA

President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity
Merryl Goldberg, Visual & Performing Arts, CHABSS

President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Service Leadership
Sharon Hamill, Psychology, CHABSS

President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching Innovation & Excellence
Marshall Whittlesey, Mathematics, CoSM

Employees of the Year
Candace Bebee, Finance and Administrative Services
Anna Fleming, Community Engagement


Please join me on Thursday, January 17, at 11:00 a.m. in the Dome as we recognize each of the recipients at the Annual Faculty and Staff Awards Reception.

October 24, 2012
2012-2013 Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award

Upon the recommendation of the Faculty Awards Selection Committee (FASC), I am pleased to announce that Dr. Martha Stoddard Holmes, professor of Literature and Writing Studies in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral & Social Sciences, is the recipient of the 2012/2013 Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award. Dr. Stoddard Holmes’s exemplary efforts to impart University values through student centered teaching, combined with her record of cross disciplinary scholarship on disability in literary studies, and her willingness to step into leadership roles to serve the campus community make her richly deserving of this highest faculty honor. (read more)

September 20, 2012
CSU Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM

I am proud to announce that the California State University (CSU) selected California State University San Marcos to be the home for the new CSU Institute for Palliative Care. The CSU’s decision to house the Institute at Cal State San Marcos is a reflection of our reputation as an innovative, entrepreneurial and community engaged university. Today, we are celebrating the launch of the Institute with a special program attended by invited community and industry leaders in palliative care. (read more)

July 2, 2012
Budget

The budget passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor provides essentially a flat budget for the CSU. The enacted budget includes the $250 million trigger cut to the CSU if voters reject the Governor's tax measure this November. We at CSUSM are proceeding with our current budget planning, which includes contingency plans should the ballot measure fail and the trigger cuts be implemented. For information on steps already taken, see my earlier budget message: www.csusm.edu/president/blog/2011.2012/052912budgetupdate.html. (read more)

June 26, 2012
All Jazzed up for a Good Cause

Every summer, Cal State San Marcos hosts its annual Foundation Gala, an evening of friends, food and festivities to benefit our scholarship fund.  This year's theme was "All That Jazz," and the night was resplendent with the glitz and glamour of the 1920s. Women were bedecked in pearls and feathers. Men wore topcoats and tails. And everyone, from the events staff to the attendees, was smiling.

The gala is always a joyous occasion because we have an opportunity to bring our friends and supporters to campus and also because the evening is dedicated to raising money for a good cause: student scholarships.  So many of CSUSM¿s students relay on scholarships to help fund their educational dreams, and without the generosity of our donors, many students would be forced to abandon their goals. (read more)

June 6, 2012
A Summer Full of Promise

It is officially summer at Cal State San Marcos. We graduated 2,600 students a few weeks ago, our largest ever class, and campus has quieted down a bit from the spirited year-end activities. That doesn't mean, however, that we are not busy.

Over the past few weeks, we have held special ceremonies to welcome students and their families from three of our partner school districts, Valley Center Pauma, Escondido Unified and San Marcos Unified.  More than 100 graduating seniors from high schools in these areas are coming to CSUSM as part of our agreement with their districts that guarantees admission to the CSU to students who do the work and meet all of the admission requirements. (read more)

May 29, 2012
Budget Update

The Governor's May Revise budget proposes a $250 million trigger cut to the CSU if voters reject his tax measure this November. His January budget had proposed a $200 million trigger cut. If voters approve the tax measure, the CSU would receive an essentially flat budget.  

There will no doubt be continued uncertainty through the summer and until the November election.  We at CSUSM are proceeding with our current budget planning, which includes contingency plans should the ballot measure fail and the trigger cuts be implemented.  In March, I asked vice presidents to review all open positions to determine those that were essential and those that could be filled at a later date.  We have also continued to reduce travel expenditures and defer all major purchases or service contracts where possible.  At this time, I do not foresee any reductions in our permanent workforce. (read more)